Gratitude is a beautiful reminder
to make thankfulness and appreciation a daily
part of living. As a promise to yourself to care
for your spirit and honor your values –
spend a bit of time with the Spirit Series. By
matching a single, reflective word with a natural
symbol, each pattern in the Spirit Series speaks
to the heart, and then becomes a personal touchstone.

The Spirit Series, new contemporary
patterns from Great Bear Canada, are needlework-friendly.
Enjoy the big, full color chart. Stitch on your
preference – evenweave or aida. Experiment
with variegated threads and Silk Mori floss. Value
your work. Be grateful for your graces.

Michelle talks
about gratitude
I like to see this word – in fact, I like
and need to see it often. Gratitude is
my defense against disappointment, self-pity,
criticism and envy. When I concentrate on what
I have/can do/can be, there isn’t the opportunity
to get stuck on what I don’t have/can’t
do/will never be.

Gratitude is my antidote for those
nagging, not-enough thoughts. My family plays
a game in December. Every night after supper,
we count our blessings, collecting coins for each
one. We might count how many beds we have, or
how many relatives. We might add up the boxes
of cereal in the cupboard, or the pairs of socks
in a drawer. Each day is different and brings
in different amounts of coins. On Christmas Day
we donate the money to a charity that helps the
less fortunate. For my family it’s a terrific
reminder of all that we no longer notice, as well
as a counterweight to the consumer focus of the
holiday.

I have a couple of other ways to jump-start my gratitude,
too. When I spend time at a cottage or camp with few creature
comforts, I return home grateful for what’s there. I also
keep a journal where I jot down everyday pleasures, the kind that
don’t come from a store. When I reread them later, I’m
humbled by how blessed I am.